Dr. James T. Callow publications
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The James T. Callow Folklore Archive
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BAD BIRD
WHAT IS BLACK, SITS IN A TREE AND IS VERY DANGEROUS?
A CROW WITH A MACHINE GUN.
Submitter comment:
HEARD FROM AT LEAST FOUR DIFFERENT SOURCES AT
UNIV. OF DETROIT, APRIL, 1962
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): ANIMAL
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1962
ELEPHANT STORY
WHY DO ELEPHANTS HAVE TRUNKS?
BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE GLOVE COMPARTMENTS.
Submitter comment: HEARD IN STUDENT UNION AT UOF D-1963
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 00-00-1963
THE BIBLE
WHY SHOULDN'T YOU READ THE BIBLE?
BECAUSE THE HERO DIES IN THE MIDDLE.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS ON CAMPUS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): HISTORICAL ; RELIGION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 01-00-1965
RECOGNITION
HOW CAN YOU TELL GOD FROM THE OTHER SPIRITS IN HEAVEN?
HE HAS A BIG "G" ON HIS SWEATSHIRT.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS ON CAMPUS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): RELIGION
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 01-00-1965
THE OLD COUPLE
THERE WAS AN OLD COUPLE, THE FATHER'S NAME WAS FERDINAND,
THE MOTHER'S NAME WAS MELIZA. THEY HAD A DAUGHTER
AND CALLED HER FERTILIZER.
WHAT DID THEY DO WITH HER?
THEY SPREAD HER ALL OVER THE GRASS.
Submitter comment: THE INFORMANT HEARD THIS ON CAMPUS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 01-00-1965
SICK JOKE
WHAT DO YOU HAVE WHEN YOU MIX VODKA AND PRUNE JUICE?
A PILE-DRIVER
THAT STINKS}
Submitter comment: I HEARD THIS ON CAMPUS AT THE UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 04-16-1965
RIDDLE
DO YOU KNOW THAT THEY ARE TEARING DOWN TITAN STADIUM?
THEY ARE GOING TO BUILD HONEYMOON COTTAGES FOR THE PRIESTS.
Data entry tech comment: TITAN STADIUM IS A NICKNAME FOR THE UNIV. OF DETROIT'S STADIUM.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): RELIGION CATHOLICISM
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-27-1967
RIDDLE QUESTION
DO YOU KNOW WHY CHRIST NEVER WENT TO COLLEGE?
BECAUSE HE GOT NAILED ON THE BOARDS.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): PUN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-19-1967
RIDDLE
DO YOU KNOW WHAT THE POPE'S FAVORITE SONG IS?
WEDDING BELLS ARE BREAKING UP THIS OLD GANG OF MINE
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 09-12-1967
JOKE
WHAT DID ONE TREE SAY TO THE OTHER TREE?
LEAVE
Submitter comment: HE LEARNED IT FROM STEVE SELIG AT A PLEDGE MEETING.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): PUN
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
JOKE
WHY DOES A BABY JUST WALK SOFTLY?
BECAUSE IT CAN'T WALK, HARDLY.
Submitter comment: HE LEARNED IT FROM RICK BERKFIELD AT A PLEDGE MEETING
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | RIDDLE -- Riddle Question |
Date learned: 02-08-1967
NUN'S VEIL
MARY JO WAS TOLD BY HER FOURTH GRADE TEACHER SISTER
ANGELITA, S. S. J. THAT SHE COULDN'T TOUCH A SISTER'S
VEIL BECAUSE IT IS BLESSED.
Where learned: OAKLAND UNIVERSITY STUDENT ; MICHIGAN, ASSUMED ; ROCHESTER
| Subject headings: | PROSE NARRATIVE -- B439 |
Date learned: NOT GIVEN
PROVERBIAL METAPHOR
IT'S NOT ENOUGH TO BE GOOD --
ONE MUST DO IT THE RIGHT WAY.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; DETROIT ; ALPENA ; COLLECTED AT UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
Keyword(s): SKILL PERFECTION
| Subject headings: | PROVERB -- Proverbial Apothegm Maxim |
Date learned: 10-00-1968
CUSTOM
IF YOU BURN PALM IN THE HOUSE DURING A STORM
IT WILL PROTECT HOUSE AND THOSE INSIDE.
Submitter comment: HEARD BY INFORANT FROM AN OLD AUNT.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; TOLD AT ; STUDIO
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Magic of Speech, Sign, Color |
Rope Jumping Rime
DONALD DUCK IS A ONE-LEGGED, ONE-LEGGED, ONE-LEGGED DUCK.
DONALD DUCK IS A TWO-LEGGED, TWO-LEGGED DUCK.
DONALD DUCK IS A THREE-LEGGED, THREE-LEGGED DUCK. DONALD DUCK IS A FOUR-LEGGED, FOUR-LEGGED,
FOUR-LEGGED DUCK.
Submitter comment:
Informant learned this in a Grand Rapids, Michigan, grade school.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; FOLEY HALL
Keyword(s): ACTION-RHYME ; CHARACTER
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- Game Verse Game Verse |
Date learned: 03-30-1967
Each year it is a known tradition that all freshmen must
be "laked" on their birthday. Laking includes a group of
around twenty guys that first smear shaving cream on the
birthday boy. He is then led down to St. Mary's Lake
where he receives his birthday swim. The tradition ends
with a goodnight song to the girls in Lewis Hall, and a
mass mooning from all the guys involved in the laking
event.
Where learned: INDIANA ; University of Notre Dame ; South Bend
| Subject headings: | CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- School CUSTOM FESTIVAL -- Private birthday or anniversary |
CHINESE JOKE
THE CHINAMAN LEAVES IN THE AFTERNOON FOR A DENTAL APPOINTMENT. HE
LEAVES AT TWO THIRTY. TWO THIRTY IS TOOTH HURTING.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; UNIVERSITY RELATIONS
| Subject headings: | Ballad Song Dance Game Music Verse -- CHIN |
Date learned: 00-00-1977
SWEEP
IF SOMEONE HAS A GRUDGE AGAINST YOU, DON'T
LET THEM SWEEP DUST UNDER YOUR RUG
BECAUSE THAT IS A SIGN THAT THEY HAVE A FIX ON YOU.
Submitter comment: INFORMANT LEARNED IN CHILDHOOD.
Where learned: MICHIGAN ; UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT ; DETROIT ; BRIGGS BUILDING
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Curse |
Date learned: 03-05-1971
IF , WHILE YOU
IF, WHILE DRIVING ALONG A ROAD OR FREEWAY,
YOUR CAR BY CHANCE PASSES UNDER A MOVING TRAIN,
YOU MAY MAKE A WISH AND IT WILL COME TRUE
IF YOU REMEMBER TO HOLD SOME BUTTONS ON A PIECE
OF YOUR CLOTHES.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |
Date learned: 10-25-1971
BED TIME CUSTOM
AFTER THE CHILDREN HAVE SAID THEIR PRAYERS,
AND GONE TO SLEEP, IT IS A CUSTOM IN THIS MAN'S FAMILY
FOR THE PARENTS TO COME INTO THE BEDROOM WHERE
THEY ARE SLEEPING AND SPRINKLE THEM WITH HOLY WATER
TO KEEP THE DEVIL AWAY DURING THE NIGHT.
Where learned: UNIVERSITY OF DETROIT
| Subject headings: | BELIEF -- Prayer |